Anesthesia and Surgery
A Guide to Preparing Your Child for
Welcome to Franciscan Children’s!Your child, ______ __________________________________________________________________
is scheduled for surgery on ______________________________________.
Important Reminders:
U Review and follow all Dietary Guidelines. If you eat or drink the surgery will be cancelled. See page 5 of this Handbook for more details.
U Is all necessary paperwork completed?
• Insurance
• Guardianship documents
• History and physical examination form
U Have your child take his/her medications as instructed by their doctor or anesthesiologist.
U Arrange Transportation. Patients are not allowed to travel home by public transportation
after anesthesia. Please arrange for a car or taxi to take you home.
U Leave extra time for commuting into Brighton - travel to the hospital during the morning
commute hours may double normal travel times.
U Plan to be at Franciscan Children’s for at least 5-6 hours. It is important to leave the day
open, as unexpected scheduling changes can occur an we cannot predict the time you will
arrive back home.
U Dress your child in loose, comfortable clothing.
U Bring a familiar comfort item for your child (i.e. a blanket, teddy bear, toy, etc.)
You will be contacted the day prior to the surgery for expected arrival time. Please do not call
ahead to request the arrival time.
Arrival Time: _________________________________
PLEASE CALL IMMEDIATELY IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT.
(617) 254-3800 x2970 • Fax (617) 779-1509
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Arrival and Registration
Please arrive on time. A staff member
will call the day before your surgery to
tell you what time you should arrive -
we are unable to provide an official
arrival time before this.
Please park in Parking Lot A. Parking
is free for patients and families.
You will check in at the Ambulatory
Registration desk when you enter. A
staff member will escort you to the
operating room waiting area.
Pre-Op
You and your child will be escorted
to the pre-operative area from the
waiting room. There, your child will
be asked to change out of their
clothes and into a hospital gown and
pants. A nurse will take your child’s
blood pressure, temperature, and
listen to their heart and lungs.
A WORD TO PARENTSWhen a child needs surgery, parents may feel frightened for their
child and a bit overwhelmed with the numerous hospital
procedures. Our anesthesia staff has compiled this brochure
specifically for parents. It is designed to address parental
concerns and to help parents prepare their child for surgery. We
encourage you to review this information. Contact your surgeon,
dentist or our Anesthesia Department with any questions.
IMPORTANTChildren under age 18 must be
accompanied by a parent or legal
guardian bearing proof of
guardianship (paperwork
from court.) Patients 18
years and older who are not
competent to consent to receiving
anesthesia or undergoing a
surgical procedure must have their
court appointed guardian give legal
consent to the planned procedure,
either by phone prior to the
procedure, or in person the day
of surgery.
Prior to the day of surgery, court issued guardianship papers must
be provided to the Anesthesia Department at Franciscan Children’s.
Your Surgery Experience
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You will meet and have a chance to talk
with your Dentist, Anesthesiologist, Nurses
and Child Life Specialist. Your Child Life
Specialist will provide your child with toys
and activities to use while they wait, as well
as teach them about their procedure to help
with any fears or concerns. Your child will
be given an anesthesia mask which goes
over their nose and mouth – they will have
a chance to play with it and get used to it
before going into the Operating Room.
Surgery
Your child will ride in a hospital bed
down to the Operating Room (OR).
You will be able to accompany them
into the OR until they are asleep. Once
in the OR, the anesthesiologist will
place an anesthesia mask over the
child’s face to administer the
medication, and as your child breathes
in the medicine they will fall asleep.
There will be several staff members
there to support you and your child
every step of the way. Once your child
is asleep, you will be escorted back to
the waiting room and given an
estimated time for how long the procedure will take.
Post-Op
A staff member will come to get you and bring you to the post-operative area when
your child’s surgery is over. We will get you as soon as possible so that when your child
wakes up, you are one of the first faces they see. It will take time in the post-operative
area for your child to recover from surgery. Nurses will take vital signs again and
your child will have a popsicle or something to drink.
When your child’s medical condition has stabilized, you will be given verbal and
written instructions for home care before you leave. Your child will be discharged
when you are comfortable with this plan.
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Talking to Your Child about Surgery
Surgery can be scary for children. It is important to be honest with your child and explain
to them, in simple terms, why they are coming to the hospital. The more appropriate
information children receive, the less worried they feel. For example, you could say:
“We are going to the hospital so the dentist can clean your teeth. At the hospital, they are going to give you a special medicine that will allow you
to sleep while the dentist cleans your teeth so that you don’t have to feel, hear, or see anything. I will stay with
you the whole time when you are awake, and will be right there when
you wake up. When it’s over, we will leave the hospital and come home. Do you have any questions?”
You can also bring a comfort item (i.e. a blanket, teddy bear, toy, etc.) from home that you
child can keep with them throughout the day. It is also important to serve as a role model
for your child by remaining positive, calm, and comforting so that they know they are safe.
Please tell our staff anything about your child that may help us make them feel more
comfortable. If your child has any previous experiences with hospitals that have been
positive or negative, as well as any specific concerns or triggers, we want to know so
that we can do our best to make them feel safe and cared for.
Feel free to contact us any time
at (617) 254-3800 x2970
with any questions or concerns about
how to prepare for your child’s surgery.
Questions or Concerns?
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Dietary Instructions
It is extremely important that your child not eat anything according to the
instructions below. If your child eats or drinks anything other than what is written
here, their surgery will have to be cancelled and rescheduled upon arrival. It is not
safe to administer anesthesia after eating or drinking.
Clear liquids include water, apple juice, ginger ale, plain Jell-O, and Pedialyte.
Clear liquids do not include tea, coffee, milk, formula and juices with fruit pulp (grapefruit, orange and tomato).
Medication
Children requiring medication should take them as instructed. The medication can be
taken up to one hour before surgery with a small amount of clear liquid or plain Jell-O.
You will be advised in advance about considerations pertaining to your child’s specific
medications. If you have questions, or if you did not receive instructions, please call
the Anesthesia Department at 617-254-3800.
Illness
Please notify your surgeon or dentist if your child develops a cold, fever,
asthma attack or any other illness within a week before surgery.
AGE:0 Months -3 years
AGE:3 years+
STOP solids after midnight
STOP milk and formula 6 hours
before surgery
STOPclear liquids 2 hours
before surgery
STOP food and milk after midnight
STOP clear liquids 2 hours
before surgery
� �
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Directions to Franciscan Children’s
IF USING A GPS DEVICE PLEASE ENTER:
30 Warren St., BRIGHTON 02135
(Not Boston)
Parking Lot A is most convenient for use by surgical patients
Free parking is available
Directions
FranciscanChildrens.org
30 Warren Street, Brighton, MA 02135 I 617-254-3800
Our VisionWe envision a world in which all children can reach
their fullest potential and live their best life.
Our MissionWe provide a compassionate and positive environment where
children with complex medical, mental health, and educational needs receive specialized care from people who are committed to excellence, innovation, and family support … so that children
can reach their fullest potential and live their best life.
Since 1949, Franciscan Children’s has served children and adolescents with complex medical, mental health and educational needs. Located in Brighton, Massachusetts, we are an integral part of Boston’s pediatric health care system. We are the only pediatric post-acute care facility in New England, and many times, we tackle the challenges that others can’t or won’t. Many of the region’s top care physicians and hospitals refer to us because of our unparalleled level of expertise. It is our privilege to care for children who need our help and their spirit motivates and inspires us every day.
Our Mission We provide a compassionate and positive environment where children with complex medical, mental health and educational needs receive specialized care from people who are committed to excellence, innovation and family support... so that children can reach their fullest potential and live their best life.
Medical Services Pediatric Rehabilitation – Providing comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation programs for children who are recovering from catastrophic illness or injury.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Providing therapeutic and medical attention on an inpatient to children requiring respiratory support.
Therapeutic Outpatient Services • Audiology• Clinical Nutrition Services• Occupational Therapy• Physical Therapy• Speech-Language Pathology
Pediatric Dentistry in affiliation with Boston University – Staffed by pediatric dentists and other dental specialists, all with expertise in treating children with special needs.
Medical | Mental Health | Education
pediatric services
About UsAt Franciscan Children’s, we bring an unparalleled level of expertise to children with complex medical, mental health and educational needs so they can receive specialized care in a compassionate and positive environment. We share an unwavering commitment to excellence, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential and live their best life.